Introduction
Widely regarded as one of the most influential artists and producers of his generation, Kanye West—now known as Ye—set new standards for hip-hop production throughout the 2000s and 2010s.
He began his career producing beats for prominent artists such as Jay-Z and Alicia Keys before achieving chart success as a solo artist.
His 2003 debut single, Through the Wire, was written and recorded while he was hospitalized with his jaw wired shut following a car accident.
For the following decade, West maintained a dominant presence in music, with hits like Stronger, Gold Digger, and Heartless pushing the boundaries of rap.
However, his career has often been overshadowed by impulsive outbursts, antisemitic remarks, racist statements, and other controversies. The most recent dispute involves his headline booking at the 2026 Wireless Festival.
Below is a detailed account of some of his most significant and, to many, offensive moments.
'Bill Cosby innocent' post - 2016
West had a history of making controversial statements prior to 2016. Notably, he interrupted Taylor Swift's acceptance speech at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, asserting that Beyoncé deserved the award for Best Female Artist.
Earlier, during a telethon for Hurricane Katrina victims, he declared that then-President George Bush "doesn't care about black people." While some fans agreed or understood the sentiments, his later support for Bill Cosby was more difficult to justify.
In 2016, West posted on social media:
"BILL COSBY INNOCENT !!!!!!!!!!"
This statement sparked immediate backlash. Bill Cosby, a US comedian and TV star, was later convicted of drugging and raping a woman at his Pennsylvania home in 2004 and sentenced to three to ten years in prison, though the conviction was overturned on appeal.
In March 2026, Cosby was ordered to pay $59.25 million (£44.1 million) in damages to a former waitress after a court found he drugged and sexually assaulted her over 50 years ago.
Slavery sounded like 'a choice'
West generated further controversy in 2018 when he suggested that the enslavement of African Americans over centuries might have been a "choice." During an interview with TMZ, he stated:
"When you hear about slavery for 400 years... for 400 years? That sounds like a choice."
"We're mentally imprisoned,"
He was referring to the mental state of Black people. Historically, Black people were forcibly taken from Africa to the United States during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries and sold as slaves.
His remarks provoked widespread criticism on social media, with many urging him to revisit historical facts.
West later clarified on Twitter that his comments had been misunderstood, explaining:
"I brought up the 400 years point because we can't be mentally imprisoned for another 400 years."
Paris Fashion Week October 2022 - White Lives Matter T-shirt
In addition to his music career, West established himself as a fashion designer. At his Yeezy SZN 9 show in Paris, he wore a T-shirt emblazoned with the slogan "White Lives Matter."
Anti-racism activists criticized this as mocking the Black Lives Matter movement.
Following this, a photograph circulated showing West alongside conservative commentator Candace Owens, who was wearing one of his T-shirts.
Antisemitic posts lead to social media bans
Shortly after, West engaged in a public dispute with Sean 'Diddy' Combs regarding the T-shirt slogan.
West posted a private text exchange on Instagram between himself and Combs—who was incarcerated on prostitution-related charges—where West claimed Combs was "controlled by Jewish people." This message echoed a longstanding antisemitic conspiracy theory.
Consequently, West's Instagram account was suspended.
He then rejoined Twitter (then known as X) and declared he would go "death con 3 On Jewish people," resulting in a second ban.
Both platforms removed West's posts, citing violations of hate speech policies.
Earlier that week, West gave an extensive interview to Fox News host Tucker Carlson. When asked about the "White Lives Matter" T-shirt, West described it as "funny" and "the obvious thing to do."
"The answer to why I wrote 'White Lives Matter' on a shirt is because they do,"
he said.
When Carlson questioned the backlash, West responded:
"Because the same people that have stripped us of our identity and labelled us as a colour, have told us what it means to be Black."
Later in 2022, several brands severed ties with West, including fashion house Balenciaga, talent agency Creative Artists Agency, JP Morgan bank, and Gap.
By the end of the month, Adidas, a long-standing partner, ended its collaboration, stating it "does not tolerate antisemitism and any other sort of hate speech." This decision resulted in a net loss of £217 million for Adidas in 2022.
West's then-wife, Kim Kardashian, addressed his comments and bipolar disorder, stating:
"Those who are close with Kanye know his heart and understand his words sometimes do not align with his intentions."
Presidential bid and praise for Hitler
In November 2022, West announced his intention to run for US president in 2024 despite ongoing controversies.
The bid did not materialize. His previous 2020 presidential run garnered approximately 60,000 votes out of an estimated 160 million cast.
In December 2022, West appeared on a podcast hosted by conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. Wearing a face covering, he stated:
"I see good things about Hitler."
He asserted that Adolf Hitler, like all humans, had contributed value to the world.
These remarks were met with widespread condemnation.
Hours after the interview aired, West was suspended from Twitter for "violating our rule against incitement to violence."
A few months later, he was suspended again for "inciting violence" due to offensive tweets, including one displaying a symbol combining a swastika and a Jewish star.
First apology - December 2023
In December 2023, West issued an apology to "the Jewish community" for antisemitic remarks made the previous year. In a statement posted in Hebrew on Instagram, he wrote:
"I sincerely apologise to the Jewish community… It was not my intention to hurt or demean, and I deeply regret any pain I may have caused.
I am committed to starting with myself and learning from this experience to ensure greater sensitivity and understanding in the future. Your forgiveness is important to me, and I am committed to making amends and promoting unity."
Heil Hitler song and swastika T-shirts
In February 2025, West began selling T-shirts featuring swastikas, leading commerce platform Shopify to remove his online store.
Three months later, he released the track Heil Hitler, in which he claimed that a child custody dispute and the freezing of his financial assets led him toward Nazi ideology.
The song was banned from major digital streaming platforms and in Germany due to laws prohibiting extremist symbolism and hate speech but went viral on social media, especially on X.
West was subsequently barred from entering Australia because of the song's glorification of the Nazi leader.
West apologises for a second time
In January 2026, West took out a full-page advertisement in the Wall Street Journal apologizing for his antisemitic behavior. He wrote:
"I am not a Nazi or an antisemite. I love Jewish people."
He attributed his actions to bipolar disorder, stating:
"One of the difficult aspects of having bipolar type-1 are the disconnected moments – many of which I still cannot recall – that led to poor judgment and reckless behavior that oftentimes feels like an out-of-body-experience.
I regret and am deeply mortified by my actions in that state, and am committed to accountability, treatment, and meaningful change. It does not excuse what I did though."
However, Professor Amy Elizabeth West, a clinical pediatrics and psychology expert at USC Keck School of Medicine, commented on the rapper's 2022 remarks:
"Bipolar disorder is absolutely not synonymous with racism and there's nothing about mental illness that creates racism or hate.
Those are all entirely separate behaviours that he happens to have in addition to having bipolar disorder."
Wireless controversy
Following the release of his 12th album Bully, which omitted references to right-wing ideology, West was announced as the headliner for London's Wireless Festival, scheduled for three nights in July 2026.
The announcement prompted immediate backlash. West updated his open letter to the Wall Street Journal, stating:
"I have been following the conversation around my appearance and would be grateful to meet members of the Jewish community, to listen."
"I know words aren't enough," he added. "I'll have to show change through my actions. If you're open, I'm here."
The Board of Deputies of British Jews responded, expressing willingness to meet West on the condition that he withdraws from the planned performances.
Ultimately, the Wireless Festival was cancelled after the UK government denied West entry permission.
